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MINUTE ON SLAVERY 



At a Yearly Meeting held in Philadelphia 1>\ adjournments from the L5th of the Fourth 

Month to the 19th of the same ini h 

The following Minute wa 
with a sufficient numherto sup 

This meeting has been i 
brethren, the descendants of the African race, m the numerous and complicated wrongs which 
are inflicted upon them, in many parts of our favoured, but guilt) land. 

And whilst we wish affectionately to caution our mi mbers against the excitemenl of an 
unsanctified and intemperate zeal, or joining in associations founded, or conducted upon 
principles which may hazard the faithful maintenance of our religious testimonies, we earnestl) 
entreat them to cherish and dwell under those feelings of Christian love and compassion, 
towards this afflicted class of our fellow-men, which will lead them to regard with a just 
abhorrence, the crimes that the iniquitous system of slavery has introduced, and to bear an 
unwavering and consistent testimony against its obvious and multiplied violations of the dearest 
rights of humanity. 

Our worthy predecessors, actuated by a sense of r< ligious duty, laboured in this righteous 
cause, with a steady eye to the leadings of the Holy Spirit, and made many sacrifices of 
worldly interest for its support. It is our fervenl desire that we of the present da) . ma) faith- 
fully maintain the testimony on its original foundation ; and under a solemn sense of the aw lid 

load of guilt which is impending over our beloved country, and of our share intheresj sibihty, 

may seriously and impartially examine whal is required at our hands. Il our heart- an 
softened and expanded l>\ the love of God, we shall be prepared to view these oppressed 
people as children of the same Almighty father, equall) with ourselves the objects of his 
divine regard, and of that salvation which come- b) Jesus Christ, and thus be enabled to 
enter into a lively feeling of the miseries and hardships they endure ; to put our souls in 
their souls' stead, and in singleness of heart to follow ever} clear opening of dutj in their 
behalf, whatever sacrifice it ma) cosl us, either of worldly treasure or popularity. 

The close connexion, and intimate i;,t< rcourse which if maintained between the differ* nt 
sections of our common country, through the diversified and widely spread channi >m- 

merceand business, may, unless we are ver) watchful, blunl our sensibilities to the crueltii Bof 
slavery, and diminish our abhorrence of its injustice. We wish tenderl) to incite our dear 
friend- to an individual inquiry, with a single eye to the pointings of truth, how far the) are 
clear in these respects ; and Bhould such an examination awaki n serious apprehensions as to 
an) part of their traffic, thai the) ma) be willing to forego ever) prospect of gain, arising 
from the prosecution of business, which is incompatible with the punt) of our religious pro- 
fession. 

We also desire thai the attention of Friends may be parti< ularl) directed toward tho 
people of colour who reside among us, and are nominally free. Tliis class ol our fellow-men 

are the objects "I a cruel prejudice , which thi r< is reason to fear i- rather increasing bj 10 

us, and the) are subjecti 
ami religious improvemt 

renewed efforts lor alnei 
their children, and exte 

our superior advantages 

Extracted from the Minuti -. 

w 1 1 i.i \ M i:\ INS, 
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